Water Reuse in the 21st Century
Given an increasingly limited water supply, more jurisdictions across the U.S. are adopting onsite non-potable water systems (ONWS) to address water shortages.
Potable water from a public drinking water treatment plant is required to meet Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) standards. However, no national regulations exist for onsite non-potable water systems for reuse treatment, storage, and delivery.
Water Reuse Provisions in the I-Codes
The I-Codes address construction, installation, alteration, and repair of on-site non-potable water reuse systems, non-potable rainwater collection and distribution systems, and reclaimed water systems.
Generally speaking, these codes and standards, including the IPC, IRC, and CSA B805/ICC 805, address delivery and the quality of potable and non-potable water.
Water Reuse Working Group
The Code Council, in partnership with The National Blue Ribbon Commission for Onsite Non-potable Water Systems (NBRC), established a Water Reuse Working Group to explore opportunities to protect public health and better support jurisdictions seeking to advance water reuse opportunities. This diverse working group researched all aspects of onsite water reuse, developed a roadmap, and propose needed resources, including recommended updates to the 2027 International Plumbing Code and 2027 International Residential Code necessary to meet a jurisdictions’ water reuse goals such as risk-based water quality requirements based on application.
Water Conservation Provisions in the I-Codes
The International Water Conservation Code Provisions (IWCCP)® provides a comprehensive tool for the design, installation, and administration of potable and nonpotable water conservation and efficiency systems.
The IWCCP contains all the water conservation and hot water energy related provisions from the IPC, IRC, IgCC, IECC and related ICC standards. Adopting the 2021 IWCCP can result in significant long-term water savings.
Water Reuse FAQs
Learn More About Water Reuse
Background Information
- Preparing buildings and communities for water reuse
Read article - Proposed changes for the 2027 I-Codes
Read article - Code Council hosts water policy and technical conference
Read article - Podcast: Water reuse in the United States
Listen to Podcast
Talk to an Expert
For more information, contact Lisa Reiheld Director of PMG Technical Resources at lreiheld@iccsafe.org.
